More than four years after the initial announcement of the idea for a new art gallery at River Landing, officials gathered Friday to celebrate the beginning of its construction.

"It's very gratifying to see construction underway. We waited a long time for this moment," said Jason Aebig, president and chair of the Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan's board of trustees, shortly after plunging a shovel into a box of coloured earth as part of a sod turning ceremony on Friday.

Aebig dug alongside civic, provincial and federal government officials, board members, and Ellen Remai, whose family donated $15 million along with a $20 million collection of Picasso prints to the project, which now bears the family name.

The StarPhoenix editorial board was introduced this week to Gregory Burke, the simultaneous executive director of the Mendel and Remai art galleries and head of the transitional team.

Upon his shoulders he carries a set of formidable responsibilities.

Although Burke is by reputation a quiet and cerebral individual, it seems the very weight of these challenges is why he wanted the job. The construction of the new gallery is one of the most exciting things happening on the Canadian art scene, and he will be at the centre of it.

Burke points out that, like the transition from the Mendel to the Remai, Saskatoon is also going through a dramatic transition. This transformation of Saskatoon is reminiscent of what was going on in Calgary half a century ago - including the debate over how it would project itself to the nation and the world.

Calgary's population grew to 235,000 in 1966 from 180,000 a decade earlier. That frenetic growth caused the city to rethink its image. It was decided that this optimism could best be demonstrated by building the tallest free-standing structure in North America. The Husky Tower, subsequently dubbed the Calgary Tower, was Calgary's tribute to Canada's Centennial, and an effort to rejuvenate the downtown core.

When I moved to Calgary in 1971, the tower was still source of pride - especially after San Antonio tried to outdo it with the Tower of the Americas, only to learn the Canadians lied about the Calgary tower's height and it was still taller than its Texas counterpart. This was Calgary's statement. Bold, brash and ready to take on the world.

There were still many who believed the tower and the revitalization of the downtown were fools' causes. Far better, they claimed, to pour that concrete into roads and bridges to break the gridlock on the streets.

It didn't take long for the Calgary Tower to go from casting a long shadow over the Prairies to being dwarfed by other buildings. When a proposal was floated in the 1980s to add another layer and make the building taller, those responsible decided against it. There was no longer a need.

Calgary had arrived. It continues to be considered one of Canada's major cities in terms of architecture, art, planning and development. Its mistakes have been noted and its successes emulated - particularly in Saskatoon, which is now debating how we should announce our arrival to the nation.

A major art gallery seems a more dignified entry point than a tower. There are still those who suggest pouring money into an art gallery is an act of elitism, whereas pouring it into asphalt for potholes, parking spots and snow removal would be more egalitarian.

The original design called for a 2 level underground parkade. After the project came in over budget there was talk of scaling back the parkade to a single level but I'm not sure what finally transpired. The excavation adjacent to the theatre in the photo above looks pretty shallow for 2 levels, but hopefully someone knows for sure and will confirm.

You know, this may end up being a white elephant, and may be thought of as "un-needed" by many in this city, but it will definatly have a MASSIVE impact to a better look for downtown overall. As the west side of Idylwyle bridge gets developed it will be a great entrance into the city! Looking forward to seeing it finished!

You know, this may end up being a white elephant, and may be thought of as "un-needed" by many in this city, but it will definatly have a MASSIVE impact to a better look for downtown overall. As the west side of Idylwyle bridge gets developed it will be a great entrance into the city! Looking forward to seeing it finished!

Any downtown parking will get used, especially if it is within a bock or two of office buildings and the main performing arts theatre.

The gallery will also get used, perhaps with the same number of attendees as Mendal or more given it will have a larger profile.

Worse case, it does not get much use as a gallery the groups running it will simply rent out more and more space for meetings, conferences and special events until they bring in enough cash to cover costs.

You know, this may end up being a white elephant, and may be thought of as "un-needed" by many in this city, but it will definatly have a MASSIVE impact to a better look for downtown overall. As the west side of Idylwyle bridge gets developed it will be a great entrance into the city! Looking forward to seeing it finished!

Exactly. Also, Saskatoon seems to have a relatively large arts community so I'm sure it will get lots of use. But it's kind of similar to the old saying "You have to spend money to make money"... but the difference here is "you have to spend money to grow into your potential"

Calgary spent $25 million on a pedestrian bridge. Many saw and still do see it as a white elephant, but anyone who has been on and experienced how cool it is knows that it is a great addition to the city, and that fact that it has won architectural awards across the world displays Calgary's growth into a major metropolis.

Same can be said for Winnipeg's CMHR. It is exhorbitantly expensive and many have and still do see it as a white elephant. But when people see it in photos, and when people come into the downtown and see that magnificent structure, people are going to say "Wow, holy shit that is nice. This city is pretty sweet!"

... just like people driving over the Idylwyle Bridge, people will see this and think "Wow that's nice. Never thought I'd see this in a Prairie town. Wonder what it is?" It will create interest for people in that whole area of downtown.

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I find the architectural design of the Art Gallery of Saskatchewan some what uninspiring, bland and uninteresting. I like the play on clear glass and solid dark outside wall blocks on each level but otherwise not very exciting. The new Holiday Inn on Pacific ave has gotten a lot of criticism for being grey and institutional, looking like a penitentiary. Holiday Inn Saskatoon Downtown

I'm seeing AGS looking closer to that than something 'wow,interesting lets check this out', but as long as people see it as a winner then it will succeed as something in the end.